Beer supplies at risk over Lancashire factory walk-out?

Staff at the Budweiser factor in Samlesbury are on Strike until Monday

Beer ready for the supermarket
Author: Jamie WilliamsonPublished 18th Oct 2022
Last updated 27th Nov 2023

Workers at the Budweiser factory in Samlesbury have walked put in a row over pay.

Staff at the beer giants will now strike until 7am 22 October in anger at what they're calling a 'real terms pay cut. '

The plant brews and produces Budweiser, Stella Artois, Becks, Boddingtons and Export Pale Ale.

We've been told staff were offered a 3% increase and a one off cash payment, but it was refuted. Last week, in meetings between the company, the union and the conciliation service ACAS, Budweiser increased tier offer by £250 but that again was rejected by union members.

Stephen Boden, GMB Organiser, said:

‘’We don’t believe there is any real desire from Budweiser to resolve this dispute.

‘’The work force is losing confidence in the management team.

‘‘Workers are now on strike until Monday. This industrial action will impact all departments and shifts across the site and carries the risk of a Christmas beer drought.

“Budweiser continues to ignore workers and put profit before people with this derisory pay offer. Workers are rightly angry.

“But it’s not too late for management to listen to workers and get back round the table with us to work out a fair deal.”

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